As GLM data become readily available in AWIPS-II, they will be very useful for aviation forecasters who are certainly interested in the severity of t-storms, but more immediately are interested in knowing that a convective cell IS a thunderstorm for the purposes of issuing an advisory and routing aircraft around the convective cell. GLM data will help aviation forecasters answer the question "Is that convective cell a thunderstorm?" earlier than just relying on the presence of CG strikes and will provide lead-time on CG strikes. In more than one instance this week, GLM has provided 5-10 min of lead time on the first cloud CG lightning strike in a convective cell. Such lead time and the knowledge that a convective cell IS a thunderstorm will prove invaluable to the aviation community.
- Thomas Bell
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